A Methodology for Social Research. With a New Introductory Essay

420 Pages·1997·17.956 MB·English

by  Gideon Sjoberg, Roger Nett (eds.)

A Methodology
Social Research

A Methodology
Social Research
With a New Introductory Essay
Gideon Sjoberg
Roger Nett
f-N
WAVELAND
PRESS, INC.
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Prospect Heights, Illinois
For information about this book, write or call:
Waveland Press, Inc.
P.0. Box 400
Prospect Heights, Illinois 60070
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Copyright © 1968 by Gideon Sjoberg and Roger Nett
1997 reissued by Waveland Press, Inc.
“Reflective Methodology: The Foundations of Social Inquiry” © 1997 by
Gideon Sjoberg
ISBN 0-88133-914-8
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without permission in writing
from the publisher.
Printed in the United States of America
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Contents
Preface ix
1997 Revisions
Acknowledgments xi
Reflective Methodology: The Foundations of Social Inquiry
by Gideon Sjoberg xiii
1 Introduction 1
Goals and Basic Themes 1
Underlying Assumptions of Our Theoretical Perspective 4
The Sociology of Knowledge Orientation 10
A Forward Look 12
2 Basic Orientations Toward the Scientific Method 14
Science Has a History 14
The Basic Postulates of Science 23
The Nature of Theory and Data 28
3 The Logic of Inquiry and the Nature of Theoretical
Systems 39
The Nature of Logical Systems 39
V
vi Contents
The Relevance of Varieties of Logical Systems for Social
Research 46
The Problem of Inference 48
Theoretical Assumptions and Logical-Theoretical Constructs 58
4 The Researcher and the Social System 70
Science As a System of Norms 70
Scientists and Their Associations 76
The Scientist’s Role and Functions 80
Status of the Scientist 92
5 Selection and Preliminary Formulation of a Research
Project 96
Critical Factors in the Formulation of Research Projects 97
Research Grants, Bureaucracies, and Project Formulation 108
Cultural and Social Strictures on Social Research 112
The Ethics of Project Selection 120
6 Selection of Units and Sources of Data 129
The Special Versus the General Universe 129
Defining the Special Universe 133
Selecting a Special Universe 136
Selection of Units Within a Special Universe 144
Probability Sampling 147
Deviations from the Ideal in Probability Sampling 151
Circumventing the Barriers 155
Sampling and the Study of Social Norms 156
7 Direct Observation 160
Definition and Types of Direct Observation 160
Limitations of Direct Observation 161
Direct Observation by Laymen 162
Direct Observation by Scientists 167
Impact of the Observer’s Conceptual System 169
Impact of the Observer’s Status and Role 173
The Sensitive Observer and Scientific Discovery 179
Controlled Observation 182
Contents vii
8 Indirect Observation / 187
Data Gathering by Lay Observers 187
The Structured Interview 193
Interviewer and Interviewee in the Structured Interview 202
The Unstructured Interview 211
The Interviewee, the Unstructured Interview, and the Sociocultural
System 218
9 Theoretical Analysis 223
Theoretical Assumptions and Theory Building 223
Ideology and the Social Order 233
Diverse Logics of Theory Building 237
Typological Analysis 248
10 Analysis of Data: Cases and Numbers 257
Case Analysis 257
Numerical Analysis 265
Analysis of Individuals and Collectivities 284
11 The Nature and Adequacy of Explanation 288
Explanation: Some General Considerations 288
The Nature of Social Causation 293
The Reliability and Validity of Evidence 298
The Nature of Prediction and Control 308
12 The Dissemination of Research Findings 314
The Nature of Communication 314
Factors That Affect the Publication of Research Findings 315
Publishing the Findings 332
The Impact and Use of Published Materials 336
The Burgeoning of Publications 339
Index of Names 345
Index of Subjects 353
v
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